Fishing-reel.



P. GATUCCI.

\ FISHING REEL.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 7

Patented 0015.10, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

KAEL@ f7 /1 'wz/ff Ma. m WM P. CATUCCI.

FISHING REEL. APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 7, 1910.

1,005, 1 54. 1 Patented oct. 10, 1911.

z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

PLINY CATUGCI, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 A. F. MEISSELBACH & BRO.,

O F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATIQN OF NEW JERSEY.

. EisHING-REEI..

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

Application led March 7, 1910. Serial No. 547,925.

To all -i/Jhofm 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, PLINY CATUCCI, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Newark, county of'EsseX, and State.

of New Jerseykhave invented certain new and useful Improvementsin FishingeReels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make, construct, and use the same.

The object of my invention is to' 'improve lthe general construction of fishing reels, and

more particularly in the following respects: To construct the head rings of metal plates which are pressed into rings of channel shape in cross section so as to reduce their Weight to a minimum, consistent with the greatest possible strength, and to form the frame lin connection with said rings of trusses, so arranged as to materially strengthen it. To construct both front and rear head plate connections with the head ring in such a manner as to make both plates readily detachable for purposes of inspection, cleaning, 'and oiling. To so construct the spindle pivot bearing as to allow for adjust-- ment for end thrust, and at the same time prevent binding between the pivot and bearmg. A further improvement resides in the particular manner of securing the front head plate to the head ring, and the method of incasing the plate in a flanged metal `ring so as to secure accurate adjust-ment and alinementV of the spindle pivot bearings.

Another object of my invention 4is to construct the parte of a fishing reel in such a mannner as to provide for anl adjustable drag upon the paying out of the fishing line, upon what are known as free spools or free running spools. This class of spools has now become well recognized in the art and is fully exemplified in the patent granted to in vselfand A. F. Meisselbach jointly on the 3d day of August, 1909, No. 929,867. l'n reels of this type, the gear connection between the winding crank and the spool proper is of such character thaty the line which is wound upon the spool may pay out freely, but with a slight movement of the crank, the gear connections are made operative almost instantly. ln winding up the line in deep sea fishing, and particularly with some classes of game fish, it

is necessary to play the fish a considerable time in order to tire him out, .before it is possible to land him. To do this requires considerable skill on the part of the angler, and if continued for some length of.time, it becomes very tiresome, because of the close attention required to the operation of the spool; and at the same time to preserve such control upon the crank as to be able. to wind up the line whenever there is the slightest bit of slack therein. Moreover, in this class of spools, the drag has usually been provided for by' the angler placing his thumb upon theline as it lays upon the spool,or by the .so-called click wheel and pawl, or both. This is very unsatisfactory, and usually inadequate to accomplish the results sought.

, It is one of the purposes of my invention to place upon the axis or spindle of the spool a tension device of such a character as to entirely obviate this manipulation nof the line by means of the thumb of the angler, such tension device being of a nature to adjustably retard the paying out of the line with varying degrees ofvtension according to the will of the angler, and yet permit at all times the free winding in of the line. rIhe degree of this drag for certain classes of fish should be adjustable, and vary from almost nothing to enough to produce the elfeetual stoppage of the paying out of the line. This, also, must be entirely free from the winding operation.

In carrying out the objects of my invention, I make'use of the structures illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure l illustrates a longitudinal section of a fishing reel provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 illustrates the end view of the vfishing reel, showing the external means of adjustment for the drag. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing part-s of the drag structure in detail. Fig. 4 is aninside plan view of the head plate which carries the drag structure. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. -4.. Fig. 7 is a side view of a head plate. Fig. 8 is an under plan view of the same. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the head ring, showing the notches therein, for securing the head plate to the head ring. Fig. l() is a sectional view of the head ring, showing the locking device. Fig. l1 is a perspective view partly in section of the locking device.

tional view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified form of drag adjustment. Fig. 14

is a side plan view of the dust cap and thrust bearing adjustment screw. Figil is a sectional view .of the rear head-plate showing the method of securing the parts together.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have illustrated a free running reel in which the driving mechanism ofthe spool is substantially the same as that illustrated in the prior patent to A. F. Meisselbach and myself, above referred to, and fully described in such patent, so that no description of this mechanism is deemed to be necessary in vthis specification.v Suffice to say that the mechamsm is of su`ch character as to permit the freev automa-tic paying out of-the line from the spool and yet to be instantly underthe control of the angler upon the slightest movement of the cra-nk in the winding-up direction; this movement effectively and immediately checking the paying out of the` line, the further `movement of the crank resulting in the winding up of the line upon the spool.V All these features are'clearly pointed out-and fully described -in said prior patent. As above set forth, this free paying out of the line, in some classes of fishing,

requires eective and immediate control` other than through the crank or windingup mechanism. In order to provide such a control as already stated, I interpose in the paying out of the line, an adjustable tension or drag, so that the strain upon the line due to the pull of a fish thereon can be controlled by mechanism other than the s winding mechanism. This structure I will now proceed to describe in detail.

The reel frame is composed .of` the head rings A, A, which are of peculiar truss construction, and are connected and solidly baced by the cross bars, A3, and` the foot plate A1. The rings, A, A, are of peculiar construction and form an important feature of -1ny invention. Each ring ismade by cupping a disk of metal, so as to draw a circular flange around the margin ofthe disk; a circularpiece is then cut from the bottom of the cup, after which a sectional die is fitted. into the resulting flanged ring, and the portion of the flange which projects above the face of the die is then spun partially down and subsequently the incomplete ring is placed in a heavy press and the partially spun flange is pressed down flat upon the upper face of the sectional die, thus completing the forming operation. The die is then removed from the interior of the ring, which is then trimmed up and is ready to be drilled for the reception of the cross bars or rods. The resulting head ring is channel shapedin cross-section, with the flanges projecting toward the center, thus forming the strongest and lightest known constructionthe circular truss.

As a means for connecting the rings A, A, as above described, I drill holes through the flanges, through which are inserted the shouldered cross bars A8, the reduced ends of which snugly fit the holes and in the case of the rear head plate I have shown these reduced ends projecting through and riveted down upon the outside ring flange. In order to still further strengthen the ring flanges,'I insert between them the short sections of metal tubing A5, in registry with the holes, passing the cross bar ends through the holes andtubes then riveting the cross bar ends upon the outside, as shown. The foot plate A1, is also secured to the flanges of the head rings by rivets which pass through the fianges of the foot plate,-and the flanges of the rings. The resulting frame is of extreme strength and rigidity, and will not become distorted under the lseverest of ordinary use, while it possesses the very desirable quality of lightness.

I have shown two methods; of securing the head plates, A1, and A2, in position in the head rings, one rfor securing the rear head plate and the other for securing the front head plate. I prefer to use both methods as shown,- in actual practice, but I do not wish to be considered as confining myself to this practice, as it will be readily l the rear head plate and it may therefore be more permanently though not `less rigidly fixed.

As shown, the outside iange of the rear head ring A, is somewhat Wider than the inner flange, so that the plate A1, may be of a diameter sufficient to pass the inner flange and rest flatly with the recess of the plate against the outer flange, as clearly shown in the drawing, Where 1t may be held rmly in position by screws, A, as in Fig. l, or which pass through the outer flange and into the elbow nuts A7, one arm of which bears upon a chamfered notch in the inner margin of the plate A1 and the other arm bea-rs upon the outer flange ofthe ring A, as shown in Fig. 15. The several screws A thus rigidly secure the plate A1 to `the ring A, whilewhen necessary the plates may be readily removed by removing said screws.

In Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, I have shown a novel -form of front head plate and means for fastening the same to the head ring as is provided with a flanged metal ring 1, whichfits over and is rigidly secured to the circumferential recess on the under side of the plate, as shown in section in Fig. 1. The flange of this ring 1 is sufliciently wide to give it a full bearing upon the inturned flange of the head ring A. The ring 1 is provided with the four bosses 2, diametrically located upon its outside cylindrical portion, such bosses being, however, of less depth than the widthl of the ring, so as to leave the narrow channels, 3. The single stop boss, 4, is also provided of a depth equal to the ring 1. The head ring A has its outside flange notched at 5 to correspond in depth width and position with the four bosses 2, upon the ring 1. I also provide the notch, 6, in the head ring to correspond in position with the boss 4 of the ring, but of two or t-hree times its width.

If, now the plate A2 and the ring A are brought together with the bosses and notches properly located, and given a relatively slight turn the solid portion ofthe flange of the head ring A will take into the channels 3, while the boss 4 will form a stop 'against the end of the notch 6, thus securing the head ringy and plate together against lateral displacement.

v In order to lock the parts in position, IY

. provide the small spring bolt 7 in the chanmechanical inaccuracies in thev threading of,

nel of the head ring A, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, such bolt having the external slide button 8 connect-ed therewith, which the Abolt may be withdrawn against the pressure of the small flat spring 9. The flange of the .ring 1 is provided with the slnall hole 10 to `receive the exposed end of the bolt 7 when the head plate A2 with its ring 1 are brought together in the position with the head ring A, and given the slight turn as above described. When thus locked together, itn is only necessary to depress the bolt 7 by means of the button 8 and give the plate ,A2 a slight backward turn, to separatethem'.

In the prior Patent, No. 845,805, of March 5, 1907, granted to A. F. Meisselbach, there is shown a novel forml of spindle bearing and end thrust takeup. lThis possesses the fault that it is notalways possible to properly aline the bearings so as to avoid a slight binding' between the bearing proper and the pivot, due, of course, to the slight the several adjusting parts. In my present construction these difficulties are entirely obviated, and yet all of the valuable'features spindle pivot c1.

of the older structure are preserved.

' In the head plate A1, I secure in"any suitable manner as by screwing therein the bearin g bushing B, which has the accurately alined bearingy B2 therein to receive the The external portion of thisy buishing is cylindrical as shown, while the outer end is provided with a screw thrust adjusting stud B3, which is provided with the central bearing boss B4 which bear's upon the end of the spindle pivot c1. In this manner all end play of the spindle C may be taken Vup without disturbing the alinement of the long cylindrical bearing B2. The stud B3 is provided with the' cap B5 which has its flange slitted and inwardly turned to frictionally engage the external cylindrical Lportion of the bushing B and thus serve not onlya's a dust cap but also to prevent the adjusting stud B2 from too readily turning. The bearing B1 is of any usual type and need not be explained in det-ail. Mounted on these bearings B, B1, is the usual spindle C upon which is secured the spool D. The drag end of the 'spindle is provided with the squared portion c and with the pivot portion c1 as shown. Rigidly secured upon the spindle C is the washer c2, such washer being located at the juncture of the pivot c1 and the squared portion c.

Mounted upon the squared portion c of the spindle is the cam ratchet tooth E, in such a manner as to be slidable along said squared portion. Between this cam ratchet tooth E and the washer c, I locate a spiral spring-e, thevtendency of which is to force the cani ratchet tooth E against the shoulder formed by the squared portion c. This is clearly illustrated in each of Figs. 3 and 5.

Rigidly secured to the inner Yface of the head plate A1, is'the cup shaped friction disk F, having a central aperture,concentric with the axis of the spindle C. In this cup-shaped friction disk F, I mount a cooperating friction disk G, said plate beingprovided with a hub g as clearly shown'.- Upon the hub g, I mount a spring plate H, said plate having the extension arms/L, extending in diametrically opposite directions as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. Theseextension arms are provided with squared nuts I, as shown clearly on theY drawings. Projecting through the head plate A in registry with the squared nuts I, are the adjusting thumb screws K, K". It" will now be seen that by screwing up the thumb screws K, K, into the nuts I, I, the plate H' will be made to. press the friction disk G upon the cup-shaped friction disk F and this pressure will be varied in accordancewith the number of turns given to the thumbscrews K, K.

Mounted \upon the hub g. of the friction disk G, is the spring pawl L, such ,spr-ing pawlbeingv pivoted at Z, and which, it will be seen, will lie directly in the path of the cam ratchet tooth E, whenever it is depressed against the spring e, to a position where its t' face -will lie against the hub'g of the fric- .tion disk Gr. In such depressedposition, it twill be noted, from an inspection of Fig. 4, that the rotation of the spool spindle C will' cause the -tooth E to engage the'pawl L, wvhich, as above described, is pivotally conf nected with the friction disk G and consequently a rotation of the spindle in the opposite direction will cause a simultaneous rotation of the friction disk G, which rotation, however, will be retarded in a greater or less degree as the friction plate I-I, presses vthe friction disk G, with a greater or less Upon reference-to Fig. 2, lit will be noted that I have provided stop pins or screws 7c, which liein the path of the laterally projectirig pins k1, but which are rigidly se- 'Vcuredvin the'sides of-thethumbscrews K, so that the pins/7c serve in a manner, as an index to the degreelof tension applied to the drag mechanism; that is to say, when these j .pins lie upon one'side of the stop pins 7s, the least degree of tension is applied to the drag, and when the pins cl are swung around to the opposite side of the stop pins 7c, then the Intervening positions'for the pins 761,' will indicate yintermediate degrees of `the drag,

which, of course, are also within the control of the operator. As thus far described, howL 4 0 ever no means have been provided for depressing the cam -ratchet tooth4 -E into engagement with the pawl' L. It is`- obvious that some external means mustbe provided for this operation, Aand I will now describe such means. f

provide a mortisea in which I secure the metallic lblock a1, 'such block .being provided with a slot" a?, which is adjacent to a simi.

59 lar slot a3,'in the head plate A1. Projecting through theseftwogslots, a2,and a3, is the .slide pin a4, having the .external head as shown in Figsf and 6. Thisislide pin, a4', is provided with a reduced-diameter a5, as shown, upon which is mounted .a slide washer' a, which serves to' guidethe slide pin a4 in its movement in the slots a2L and a3. Mounted upon the linner end. of thev slide, upon a4, is

60 the bent arm M'g-said arm being located be' surroundsthey innerfendof the slide pin at, being located beneath the nut a7, andthe face ofthe contiguous portionof the arm This arm M hasitsleft hand end m1,'

' .65 bent' so as to bear upon a corresponding face Upon the circumference of the rin greatest of tension is applied to the drag.v

Adjacent to the front head plate A1, 1I

ed upon one of said head platesyand'relanea-th a compression spring im, which spring y portion of the metallic block a1, while its opposite end extends forward, and lies in a position adjacent to the disk portion of the cam ratchet tooth E. The operation of this device is such that when the slide pin a4 is pushed to the opposite end of the slot a3,

as shown in Fig. 5, the rear bend, m1, of the arm M, will ride upon the' corresponding portion of the block a1 and cause the forward end O f the arm M to advance in the path of the cam ratchet tooth E, and simultaneously tilt up into contact with the same and depress it against the spring e, so as to bring the tooth into the path of the pawl L; thereby making the drag of the friction plate G effective. When this shifting device is in the position shown in full line in Fig. 5, the arm M is completely free from the disk. of the cam ratchet tooth E, thus permitting the free separation of the parts for cleaning and oiling.

In Fig. 13, I have shown a slight modification of the drag adjustment. In this form I provide the disk F with a threaded flange, and substitute for the disk I-I the circular disk H1, which is provided with the circumferential notches h2, which engage corre- `sponding lugs f? upon'the inner surface of the flange F, to prevent relative rotation. I next provide the flanged ring IlL to screw downward upon the anged ring F1 and si-/- multaneously bear upon the friction disk G. I1 are the rack teeth whichvengage the plnion I8 mounted upon the thumb-shaft K1, similar in other respects to the thumbscrew K shown in Fig. 3. It will now be seen that a rotation of the thumbshaft K1 lwill communicate av rotary motion to vthe ring I thereby screwing 4it up or down upon the threaded flange .F and. so cause a greater or less' pressure between the friction plates.

" In each of the structures thus described` it will be noted that the drag of the friction` plates .may be adjusted from the exterior "nd that by manipulation of the slide .pin

a4 the drag, whether light or heavy, may be instantly thrownon or oii.

1. In a ffishing reel, the combination of a reel frame, head plates mountedl therein, a spool spindle rotatably mounted in said head plates, a pair of 'friction plates mounttively fixed against rotation, a relatively rotatable friction disk located between said pair of friction plates, and/manually oper-A ated means for detachabl connecting said friction disk to said spind e to rotate there with in onedirection. f.

2. In a fishing reel, the .combination of a spool s indle, with a pair of friction plates and al riction diskflocated therebetween, a

vpawl mounted upon said disk, anda ratchet tooth slidably secured to said spindle,where \13@ by said disk may be completely disconnected from, or caused to rotate in one direction only with said spindle. 4 j

3. In a fishing reel, the combination of a spool spindle, a pair of separated friction plates, said plates being fixed against rotation, a friction disk located between said piates, means for adjustably compressing said plates against the faces of said disk, and manually operated means for detachably connecting said disk to said'spindle to rotate therewith in one direction only.

4i. sIn a fishing reel, the combination of a spool spindle, a disk located concentrically with 'respect to said spindle and normally disconnected therefrom, manually operated means for connecting said disk to said spindle to rotate therewith, and means for frictionally retarding the rotation of said disk.

5. In a fishing reel, the combination of a spool spindle mounted to rotate, a disk having a central opening therein, located con; centrically with respect to said spindle, a pair of plates fixed against rotation and frictionally engaging the faces of said disk, and manually operated means for connecting said disk to said spindle to rotate ktherewith in one direction but permit its free rotation in the opposite direction. 30

6; In a fishing reel, the combination of` a head plate, a spindle rotating in bearings in said head plate,l a friction plate rigidly secured to said head plate, a second friction plate secured to said head plate and adjustable toward and away from said first named head plate, a friction disk mounted between and v frictionally engaging said friction plates, manually operated means for detachably connecting said disk to said spindle to rotate therewith in one direction only, and means for adjusting the pressure of said plates upon said disk. A

, 7. In a fishing reel,'the combination ofa head plate, a spindle bearing therein, a

spool spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing, a friction plate rigidly secured to said headplate, a disk frictionally engaging said plate, manually operated pawl and ratchet mechanism for connecting said disk togsaid spindleto. cause said disk to rotate with said spindle in one direction, and means for adjusting the pressure between said .disk and said friction drag upon said spindle. f I .i

8.1 In a fishing reel, the combination of a head plate, a spindle bearing therein, a

spool spindle rotatably mounted in said bearing, a friction plate rigidly secured to said head plate, a disk frictionally` engaging said fric-tion plate, pawl andr ratchet mechanism connecting said disk tosaid spindle to cause said diskto rotate with said spindlel in"one direction,-andmeans for adjusting the pressure between said disk and said friction plate, to vary the drag upon said spinplate, to vary theJ dle, and means for disconnecting said ratchet and pawl mechanism to permit the free'rotation of said spindle in both directions.

9. In a fishing reel, the combination of a head plate, a'spindle bearing therein, a rotatable spindle mounted in said bearing, a pair .of friction plates secured to said head plate against rotation, a friction disk located between said friction plates, a pawl mounted upon said disk, a ratchet tooth upon said spindle for engagement with said pawl and means for adjusting the pressure upon said disk to vary the drag upon said spindle and means for shifting said tooth out of the path of said pawl.

l0. In a fishing reel, the combination of a head plate, a spindle bearing therein, a rotatable spindle mounted in said bearing, a pair of friction plates secured to said head plate against rotation, a friction disk located between said plates, a pawl mounted upon said disk, a ratchet tooth upon said spindle for engagementwith said pawl and means for shifting said ratchet too-th out of the path of said pawl, to free said spindle from the drag.

11. In a fishing reel, the combination of a head plat-e, a spindle bearing therein, a rotatable spindle mounted in said bearing, a pair of friction plates secured to said head plate against rotation, a friction disk located between said friction plates, a. pawl mounted upon said disk, a ratchet tooth slidable upon said spindle for engagement with or disengagement fromsaidlpawl, and screw adjusting means for varying t-he pressure of said plates upon said disk.

, 12. In a fishing reel, the combination of a head plate, a spindle bearing therein, rotatable spindle mounted in saidA bearing, a `pair of friction plates secured to said head plates against rotation, a friction disk located between said friction plates, a pawl gag'ement with said pawl, screw adjusting means for varying the pressure of said plates upon said disk, and means forshifting said.V ratchet tooth out of the path of said pawl, to free said spindle from the drag.

13. In a fishing reel, the combination of a rotatable spindle, a single ratchet tooth slidably mounted upon said spindle, a friction drag including a disk concentrically located With respect to' said spindle, a pawl mounted upon said disk, and means for moving` said ratchet tooth into the path of said pawl, to actuate said friction drag. l

14. In a'fishing reel, the combination of a rotatable spindle', a single ratchet tooth slidj ably mounted upon said spindle, a friction drag lincluding a disk concentrically located with respect to said spindle, a pawl mountedupon said disk for engagement with said .1,1 auf.,

tooth, means for sliding said tooth out of' the path of saidpawl and means for varying the strength'of said drag.

15. In a fishing reel, the combination of a' rotatable spool spindle, a ratchet tooth mounted to slide upon said spindle, a spring respect to said spindle, said drag including. a

disk, a paWl mountedmpon said disk5 and' manually operated means for shifting said ratchet y tooth against said' spring along whereby said disk and said spindle rotate together in one direction and said spindle rotates independently of said disk in the op-k posite direction. A This specification' signed and witnessed this 2d day of March 1910.

PLINY oATUooi.

Witnesses:

MERVIN T. SANDERS, Y W. BWALTZINGER.

Lsaid spindle into the path of said pawl, l 

